The text appears very difficult to understand, but let's examine each word or idea and see how it all fits together. In the King James Version Bible it reads: “And now
ye know
what withholdeth that
he might be
revealed in his time. For the
mystery of iniquity doth already work: only
he who now letteth will let, until
he be
taken out of the way.” And in the Catholic Douay Bible you read it this way: “And now
you know
what withholdeth, that
he may be
revealed in his time. For the
mystery of iniquity already worketh; only that he who now
holdeth, do hold, until
he be
taken out of the way.” What does it mean? The words individually can be understood but the meaning is something else. Analyze it idea by idea now.
First the context. Paul wrote this letter to help the Thessalonians keep their faith alive. He tells them: “Faith is not a possession of all people . . . the Lord is faithful, and he will make you firm . . . we hear certain ones are walking disorderly among you, not working at all but meddling with what does not concern them.”.(
2 Thess. 3:2, 3,11) Paul had commended them because of their growth in faith (
2 Thess. 1:3), but he was concerned that something or someone would deaden that faith; in fact, he said it was “already at work.”—
2 Thess. 2:7.
The two letters, First and Second Thessalonians, were written to the congregation of Christians at Thessalonica, Macedonia. (c. 50-51 C.E.) (
1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1) So the first “ye” or “you” would be those Christians there at that time and, of course, the pronoun applies with equal force to Christians now. (
Rom. 15:4) What is the meaning of “What withholdeth”? Webster’s
New Collegiate Dictionary says on “Withhold”: “To hold back; to check; restrain. To refrain from granting, allowing, or the like; as to withhold assent.” The Christian apostles received their authority from Jesus Christ to act as a restraint. (
Matt. 10:1) “As long as the twelve apostles of Christ lived and oversaw the Christian congregation, they held up or slowed down the apostasy, the falling away to Babylonish religion. They acted as a restraint upon the development of a religious organization that professed to be Christian but that was really antichristian and Babylonish.”—
“Babylon the Great Has Fallen!” God’s Kingdom Rules!, page 474.
The apostles had the authority to keep the congregation subject to Christ; but they, who acted as a restraint upon lawless action in the congregation, would be taken away in death and then the congregation would fall away to lawlessness and false teachings. (
2 Cor. 10:2-6;2 Thess. 2:3-12; 2 Tim. 4:3, 4; Acts 20:29, 30) Again, at
Matthew 18:18, Jesus clearly shows the restraining force these mature men, operating under Jehovah’s spirit, would have in the congregation. See also
Ephesians 4:11-13 andActs 20:28. Paul, one of such men, was acting as a restraint, as shown at
2 Thessalonians 3:6: “Now we are giving you orders, brothers, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw from every brother walking disorderly and not according to the tradition you received from us.”—See also
2 Thessalonians 3:10-15;1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Colossians 2:8; Acts 20:31;Ephesians 4:17–6:9; 1 Corinthians 5:1-5;2 Corinthians 10:2-6.
“He”—this is the one to be revealed. “He” is the one referred to in
2 Th 3 verse three as “that man of sin,” “the son of perdition.” Notice how Paul describes them at
Acts 20:29, 30: “I know that after my going away oppressive wolves will enter in among you and will not treat the flock with tenderness, and from among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves.” These apostate leaders of professed Christians were to grow in strength and influence, and as soon as the restraint was out of the way they would take over.
This class of professed Christians came on the scene since Pentecost of 33 C.E. and particularly after the death of the twelve faithful apostles of Jesus Christ. They are organized into the religious clergy of Christendom and form a dominant part of Babylon the Great. Since Babylon the Great is still operating, this “man of sin” or “man of lawlessness” is still here.
“Revealed.” Says Webster’s
New Collegiate Dictionary: “To communicate or impart by supernatural means or agency. To divulge (something secret or hidden); to disclose. To open up to view; as, a painting reveals the painter. Implies an unveiling, as of something not clear to human vision or beyond one’s knowledge.” Therefore, this class of professed Christians came out into the open at the death of the apostles; “he” was revealed in his time.—
2 Pet. 2:1-3.
“Mystery of iniquity doth already work.” When Paul wrote his second letter to the Thessalonians about 51 C.E. this “mystery” or secret falling away from true Bible doctrines was already in operation. Men of influence in the congregation were already bowing down to Babylonish worship.
“He who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.” In 1611, when the King James Version Bible was written, “let” still carried the thought of restraint. Webster’s
New Collegiate Dictionary gives this archaic definition: “To hinder; impede; prevent.” That is the meaning we will have to keep in mind. At
Acts 20:29 Paul says: “I know that after my going away oppressive wolves will enter in among you.” See also
2 Peter 1:12 to 2:3. At the death of the apostles the restraining force was out of the way, the stop sign was down and the wolves came in with full power.